Located along the majestic St. Lawrence River, l' Épopée de la Moto is the first motorcycling museum in Quebec. Since opening in June 2003, it has welcomed more than 30,000 visitors.

The Museum is the property of brothers François and Jean Gagnon and is the fruit of a long-standing passion shared by both brothers who have been collecting motorcycles for over 30 years. Their goal is to assemble a collection containing specimens from each period. Today, their exceptional collection contains 140 motorcycles, mopeds and scooters, of which 100 are currently on display.

Motorcycle History Museum says " Everyone a driver!" That was the slogan Gustave-Adolphe Clément proposed for his totally equipped bicycle. The steam-powered Autocyclette Clément travelled up to 40 km/hour. In 1901 the Autocyclette won first and second place in the less than 30 kg class. In 1902, the first motorcycle police patrolled Paris on an Autocyclette resembling the one pictured here.

According to Wikipedia, "Norton is a British motorcycle, originally from Birmingham, founded in 1898 as a manufacturer of fittings and parts for the two-wheel trade."

Wide angle view - second floor section of the Motorcycle History Museum in Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, an hour-plus drive out of Québec City.

One of four Indian motorcycles at the museum. According to Wikipedia, "Indian motorcycles were manufactured from 1901 to 1953 by a company in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA. . . "

Looks like this bike was found in a chicken coop!

Competitive dirt biking - a tough business - not for the faint of heart!

William S. Harley, age 21, completes a blueprint drawing of an engine designed to fit into a bicycle. In 1903, Harley and Arthur Davidson make available to the public the first production Harley-Davidson® motorcycle. The bike was built to be a racer, with a 3-1/8 inch bore and 3-1/2 inch stroke. The factory in which they worked was a 10 x 15-foot wooden shed with the words "Harley-Davidson Motor Company" crudely scrawled on the door.

Easy Rider is a 1969 American counter-culture road movie written by Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper and Terry Southern, produced by Fonda and directed by Hopper.

Before and after restoration by the Musée de l'Histoire de la Moto!

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